Finished "Why Didn't They Ask Evans?", Agatha Christie's 20th book, originally published in 1934. This is one of her "standalone" novels, in which the protagonist, as is usual with these books, is an independent young woman (in the case of this book, Lady Frances Derwent), with a "sidekick" of a loyal and courageous, but not terribly intelligent, young man.

The plot of the book: Bobby Jones (the not-very-intelligent young man already mentioned) is playing golf when he comes across a dying man who has apparently fallen from a cliff. Before he dies, the man asks the cryptic question, "Why didn't they ask Evans?", and then promptly expires. Soon after, an attempt is made on Bobby's own life, and he and his childhood friend Frankie (Lady Frances Derwent) get involved in an exciting chain of events.

This is one of Christie's half-thriller, half detective-story, novels. It's certainly not her best work, but it's a cracking good story and well worth reading.

Good, quick read as expected. Odd is very droll which cracks me up some times.

Next up is Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson. I have heard good things about this, but it is one of the longer books I have read recently. I was a little hesitant to start something this long since I have been enjoying the shorter (3-400 page) books recently and I am worried about the length of the book club selection for November.

It's a strange kind of book. I found myself completely intrigued and you keep reading, but you can't quite put your finger on exactly why you keep reading. The story is disjointed at times and just seems to fade out towards the end.

It's a strange kind of book. I found myself completely intrigued and you keep reading, but you can't quite put your finger on exactly why you keep reading. The story is disjointed at times and just seems to fade out towards the end.

"Cryptonomicon" is one of the very few books I've ever given up on. I read about a quarter of it, but found it tedious in the extreme.

Next up is Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson. I have heard good things about this, but it is one of the longer books I have read recently. I was a little hesitant to start something this long since I have been enjoying the shorter (3-400 page) books recently and I am worried about the length of the book club selection for November.

I just finished Snow Crash, also by Neal Stephenson, and enjoyed his wit and humour immensely. Cryptonomicon is rated even higher on Goodreads, so it automatically went onto my TBR list. Please let us know what you thought of it!

It's a strange kind of book. I found myself completely intrigued and you keep reading, but you can't quite put your finger on exactly why you keep reading. The story is disjointed at times and just seems to fade out towards the end.

You aren't helping me be optimistic about this. I am only 60 pages in and am enjoying it quite a bit. I do see oiur point about not being able to put your finger on what is so intriguing though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

"Cryptonomicon" is one of the very few books I've ever given up on. I read about a quarter of it, but found it tedious in the extreme.

I hope it doesn't get to that. I REALLY don't like abandoning books. So far so good though.

Next up: Deep Wizardry (New Millennium Edition) by Diane Duane. I've just bought this as part of the nine-volume set now available.

Good story. The updating is mild. When originally written, commercial whaling hadn't been banned. I thought that this would be a problem in the book, and was surprised to see the whaling incident retained. So I read up on it. It seems that although there's a "commercial" ban, whales are still being hunted in the Atlantic.

Next up: The Man Who Sold the Moon/Orphans in the Sky by Robert A. Heinlein. A Baen omnibus edition.

I just finished Snow Crash, also by Neal Stephenson, and enjoyed his wit and humour immensely. Cryptonomicon is rated even higher on Goodreads, so it automatically went onto my TBR list. Please let us know what you thought of it!

Part of the problem I've found with Goodreads is that if a book is highly anticipated (regardless of how good it is), it gets highly rated before it's even released. As to how many that go back and change the rating to what they truly believe after reading or actually read the book, I have no idea. some books are rated between 4-5 stars and it's not even out and that's by a fair number of people.

I've said before that this was not the way to do things, but the staff don't care that this can screw the stats.